Picker-stick check.



T. CARTER, PlCKEh STICK CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14. |9|a.-

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

8 woe/Mex 1201mm QwiW m WNFFEU TATE lPTENT THOMAS CARTER, OF BELTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

lPICKER-STICK CHECK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Belton, in the county of Anderson and tate of South Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Picker-Stick Checks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to picker stick checks, and has for one of its objects the the shock and jar of contact between the v picker stick and cooperating parts of the loom mechanism, whereby rebounding of the shuttle and other objections incident to violent contact of the parts will be eft'ectually avoided.

A. still-further object of the invention is to provide a checking device which will operate with a minimum amount of wear and tear thereon, thus reducing the cost of maintaining the same in operation and increasing the period of usefulness thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a picker stick check which is simple of construction and may be installed and maintained in repair at a comparatively low cost, and which embodies a novel construction of friction means for retarding and arresting the motion thereof, the friction means being of such construction as to adapt the checking device to be made of comparatively light weight and to reduce the wear upon the friction surfaces, thus producing a checking device which will operate efliciently at all times and for a long period without repairs or replacement.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide simple and effective means for regulating the frictional pressure of the frictional devices, to provide a checking device which will have an easy swinging back and forth movement with the picker stick, to provide a checking device which may be readily mounted upon difierent styles of looms, and to provide, if desired, means for Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 14, 1918.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 217,113.

regulating the throw of the checking device in accordance with the range of throw of the picker stick.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts,

companying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the picker, stick and a portion of the lay of a .loom, showing the application of the invention. I Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. t is an inner side elevation of the checking device detached from the lay.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the hanger brackets and the frictional retarding or stop devices associated therewith. Fig. 6 is a vertical front-to-rear section I through one of the hanger brackets and the friction drum or pulley associated therewith.

Fig. 7 is a detail longitudinal section through one end of the checking device proper. v

Fig. 8 is an inner perspective view of one of the hanger brackets, showing the use of a limitation stop.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation showing a different mode of mounting the checking device upon the lay.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified form of checking device.

' Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the lay of the loom, provided with the guide slot 2 for the reception of the upper end of the picker stick 3, which operates back and forth therein in the hereinafter fully described and I, claimed, refenence being had tothe acstrips or plates 7 and 8 form with the buffer blocks 5 and 6 a horizontal longitudinally extending loop arranged to embrace the picker stick 3 below the lay and through which loop the said picker stick extends.

The checking device is carried by a swinging frame or suspension device c0nsisting of a pair of swinging arms 9 and 10 composed of rods depending from the lay and terminating at their lower ends in wrist. pins 11 which pass through openings in the ends of the buffers 5 and 6 and strips 7 and 8 and pivotally connect the same together. The arms 9 and 10 are also provided at their lower ends with horizontal oflsets 12 extending under the lay 1 and with vertical portions 13 forming abutments bearing against the front strip 8, said abutments connecting the offsets 12 with the wrist pins 11, which wrist pins are threaded at their free ends to receive nuts ll bearing against the strip 7, whereby the parts of the checking device are held in assembled relation against displacement, while permitting the checking device a to have longitudinal swinging movement in a plane substantially parallel with the lay.

hen the picker stick 3 is in an intermediate position, midway between the ends of its strokes, as shown in Fig. 1, it is disposed equidistantly from the buffer blocks 5 and 6, which buffer blocks are spaced :1 distance apart slightly less than the full distance of the stroke of the stick. This distance. may be from one and one-half to two inches, in ordinary practice, the arrangement being such that as the picker stick nears the limit of its throw in one direction or the other it will come in contact with one or the other of the buffer blocks, the checking device being thereby carried with the picker stick during the remainder or final portion of throw of the latter, during which action the motion of the stick will be cushioned and gradually arrested, as hereinafter described. The stick on its return motion engages the buffer 5 and swings the checking device 4 to the left in Fig. 1 and on its forward or work ing stroke engages the buffer 6 and swings the checking device to the right in Fig. 1, the checking device as a whole swinging with the supports 9 and 10 during the cushioning actions.

The swinging arms or supports 9 and 10 are provided at their upper ends with horizontally bent outwardly projecting spindles 15, which are respectively journaled in bearings 16 in hanger brackets 17 and 18, said hanger brackets being secured to the outer face of the lay 1 and provided with outwardly extending lugs 19. Mounted upon the projecting portion of each spindle 15 is a friction bandwhcel, pulley or friction brake head 20 of circular formation, which is fixed to the spindle by a set screw or other fastening means 21, the construction thus being such that on the forward and backward swinging movements of the arms 9 and 10 the friction. heads 20 will be partially ro tated in one direction or the other. Embracing each friction head 20 is a friction brake band 22, of leather, metal or other suitable material, a band of leather or other flexible material being preferably employed. The ends 23 of this band project above and below the lug or shank 19 projecting from the adjacent hanger bracket and are provided with openings for the passage of a securing and tension screw 24, which is adjustably mounted in a threaded opening 25 in the lug and provided at its lower end with a retaining nut 26 whereby the lower end of the brake band is clamped against the lower face of the lug. Slidably disposed upon the upper portion of the screw and bearing against the other or upper end of the brake band is a washer or hearing plate 27, against which bears a. coiled pressure and tensioning spring 28 disposed between said washer and the head of the screw, whereby the brake band 22 is normally held drawn with a. certain degree of force against the face of the pulley or drum 10, which force may be sensitively regulated or varied by adjusting the screw 24 to regulate the pressure of the spring 28. It will be understood from the forgoing description that when the checking device 4c is swung in either direction by the impact of the picker stick 3 upon one or the other of the buffers 5 and 6, the swinging movement of the checking device and rotation of the brake heads 20 will be resisted to a predetermined extent by the frictional pressure of the brake bands 22 on said brake heads, as a result of which the swinging motion of the checkin device will be resisted and said device gradually and easily brought to a stop at the limit of throw of motion of the picker stick, whereby the picker stick will be cushioned in its action and brought to a state of rest without imposing shocks or jars upon the lay or other parts of the loom mechanism. It will, of course, be understood that the frictional resistance to the swingingmotion ofthe checking device and its retarding action on the picker stick may be re ulated to an absolute nicety by governing the pressure of "the brake bands through the adjustment of the screws 24 to control the pressure of the springs 28, and that as similar frictional retarding or brake devices are provided at ca ch end of the checking device, tne force of the impact of the stick is transmitted to d sue tained by both ends of ti e checking device and its supports, thus obviating any objectionable wear and tear such as would fall upon the checking device as would be the case if the entire strain of he resistance were applied at one end of the checking device alone. I do not, however, limit the invention to the use of two friction brake devices, one at each end of the checking device, as, under some conditions, a single frictional brake device at one end of the check may be employed with efficiency, but in general the use of two checking devices is preferred and will give greater efliciency. This will be evident from the fact that by the use of two checking devices, the braking pressure of the brake band of each may be made much less than where a single brake device is employed, since the conjoint braking action of two brake bands will afford the desired braking action, but by employing two brake devices, each having a brake band bearing with a comparatively light pressure, such brake devices acting upon the opposite ends of the check, the strain upon the supports and braking devices is reduced, wear and tear upon the parts also reduced, and an easier braking action obtained, and at the same time, by distributing the braking pressures as set forth, the supporting parts may be made lighter in weight than would otherwise be the case, enabling the production of a checking device which as a whole will be of comparatively light weight and may therefore be employed upon even low-powered looms without objectionably adding to the amount of power required to operate the loom mechanism. As the brake bands engage circular brake surfaces,a decided advantage is also gained over any other type of brake mechanism, since, as the braking pressure will be distributed over a moving brake surface of comparatively large area in a compact space, an efficient braking action may be obtained without an objectionable degree of braking pressure upon the brake bands. Such bands, whether made of metal, or leather or other fabric, will therefore be subjected to comparatively little pressures, strains or wearing action, and are thus adapted to last a comparatively long time without replace ment. Owing to this fact, and to the fact that the checking device 4 moves with the picker stick and is gradually brought to a state of rest without objectionable strains thereon, it will be evident that a type of picker stick check is produced which is not only simple and inexpensive of manufacture but economical in service on account of the length of time it will operate without repairs or replacement of parts.

The buffer blocks 5 and 6, as stated, may

be made of leather or other suitable material. These buifer blocks, as shown clearly in Fig. 7 may be generally of oblong rectangular form, with slightly curved contact or abutment faces 29 and 30 for engagement with the picker stick. Each of these blocks may be concentrically or eccentrically pivoted upon its spindle 15, so that the surfaces 29 and 30 may be reversed for use by simply swinging the block upon its axis, such construction allowing the surface 30 to be brought into position for use after the surface 29 is reduced or worn away from service. In Fig. 7 I have shown the block 5 eccentrically pivoted, and by mounting the blocks 5 or 6 in this manner between the strips or plates 7 and 8, it will be evident that by an obvious adjustment either set of surfaces 29 or 30 of the blocks may be brought into position for use in such a manner as to vary the distance between the effective surfaces of the buffers to adapt the checking device for use with picker sticks having different ranges of throw or working motions.

The hanger brackets 17 and 18 may be of any suitable construction for the "purpose. In the present instance I have shown a hanger bracket 17 of angular form to bear against one end and the face of the lay and a hanger bracket 18 of a form to bear upon the face of the lay, while providing proper guides and stops for the swinging arms 9 and 10. The bracket 17 is shown as provided with end portions 31 and 32, the former bearing against an end'of the lay and the latter disposed in parallel relation to and spaced from the face of the lay, an angular portion 33 bearing against the face of the lay and bolted or otherwise secured thereto,

as indicated at 3 and an angular portion 35 connecting said portion 33 with the end portion 32 and disposing said portion 32 in spaced relationto the lay as described. By this construction a guide passage is provided between the lay and bracket portion 32 which forms a guide way for the upper end of the arm 9, as will be readily understood. The bracket 18, in the form shown, comprises a generally fiat plate secured to the face of the lay by fastenings 36, said plate having central boss 37 projecting outwardly beyond the face of the lay and forming a guide space for the movement of the upper end of the swinging arm 10. It will be understood, of course, that in the operation of the checking device the frictional brake devices may cooperate with the usual buffers at the ends of the passage 2 in the lay 1 to reduce the shock or jarof the motion of the stick upon the lay and also to allow the picker stick to recede with a, cushioning action and without undue resistance when the picker head is struck by the shuttle, thus preventing rebounding of the shuttle and the consequent liability of impairment of the loom action. In addition to the frictional brake devices suitable stop devices may be provided upon the brackets for cooperation with the arms 9 and 10 to positively and finally arrest the swinging motion of said arms, so that the strokeoof the checking device may be regulated in accordance withthe stroke of the picker stick. 'Such stop devices may be of any preferred construction, but in Fig. 8

I have shown one form of stop device which may be applied to each hanger bracket, the same comprisin a stop member 38 lying in the path of motion of the cooperating arm 9 and adjustably secured to the hanger bracket 17 by means of a bolt, pivot pin or similar fastening 89, whereby said stop devices may be pivotally adjusted with relation to said swinging arm and secured in adjusted position.

Adjustable stop devices of this character may be used when it is desired to vary the distance between the buffer members and the duration of the frictional resistance of the brake means, and so that by shortening the distance between the buffers :the resistance will be made effective earlier in each stroke. Also by the use of adjustable stop devices of this character the swinging motion of the checking device may be regulated to accord with the range of throw of working motion of different pickers-ticks in different styles or makes of looms.

It will of course be understood that the mode of mounting the checking device upon the lay 1 may vary as circumstances require. In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown the checking device at mounted below and suspended from the brackets and brake members by the swinging arms 9 and 10. In Fig. 9 I have shown a modified arrangement of the checking device at which may be employed in some cases where a different positioning of the checking device upon the loom is required. As indicated in Fig. 9 the checking device 4: is mounted upon the upper ends of the arms 9 and 10 which are supported at their lower ends with the brake devices upon a longitudinally extending supporting bracket 40 secured to the lay 1 by a depending bracket arm il. These and other modes of mounting the checking device upon the loom, and various changes in the construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In 10 I have shown a modi fied form of checking device which may be employed and in which one of the side strips or plates is omitted, the said check ing device consisting of buffer blocks 5 and 6 suitably secured to the ends of a single strip or plate 7 whereby they are connected and held in spaced relation for movement in unison, as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a picker stick check, the combination of supporting means, a checking device bodily movable in a horizontal plane and having spaced abutments adapted to be engaged by the stick at the ends of its strokes, vertically disposed swinging members pivotally suspending the checking device at its ends to permit reverse swinging movements of the same on the reverse movements of the stick, and means acting upon said swinging members to frictionally retard the same and the checking device in their swinging movements.

2. In a Picker stick check, the combination of supporting means, a checking device bodily movable in a horizontal plane and having spaced abutments adapted to be engaged by the stick at the ends of its strokes, vertically disposed swinging members pivotally suspending the checking device at its ends from the supporting means to permit reverse swinging movements of the same on the reverse movements of the stick, separate and independent friction devices respectively acting upon said swinging members to frictionally retard the same and the checking device in their swinging movements, and means for varying the frictional retarding action of said retarding devices.

3. In a picker stick check, a horizontally disposed and movable check device having a pair of spaced abutments for contact with the picker stick at the ends of its forward and return strokes, vertically disposed movable members pivotally supporting said checking device at its ends for reverse swinging movements, and independent resistance devices acting upon the respective movable members to resist movement thereof.

4. In a picker stick check, a check device bodily movable in a horizontal plane and having spaced abutments, supports at the end of the check device pivotally mounting the same for backward and forward swinging movements, and separate and independent brake devices acting upon the respective supports.

5. In a picker stick check, a check device bodily movable in a horizontal plane and having spaced abutments, swinging arms disposed in a vertical plane and pivotally connected with said check device, said arms supporting the check device for backward and forward swinging movements, and separate and independent brake devices acting upon the respective swinging arms.

6. In a picker stick check, a check device bodily movable in a horizontal plane and having spaced bufiers, swinging arms supporting said check device at its ends to permit said check device to have backward and forward movements, said arms being provided with spindles pivotally mounted upon the lay of the loom, and separate and independent brake devices acting upon the respective spindles.

7. In a picker stick check, a check device having spaced abutments, independent swinging supports connected with the ends of the check device for supporting the same from the lay of the loom to swing in a substantially horizontal plane, circular brake heads carried by said independent supports, and friction brake members acting upon said circular brake heads.

8. In a picker stick check, a checking device having spaced abutments, swinging arms pivotally connected with the ends of said checking device, said arms having spindles for pivotally supporting the checking device for swinging movements from the lay of a loom, circular brake heads carried by said spindles, and friction devices acting upon said brake heads.

9. In a picker stick check, the combination of a pair of vertically disposed and spaced swinging arms, said arms being provided with spindles, a horizontally movable checking device connecting said spindles and including a pair of spaced bufi'er blocks being eccentrically pivoted on said spindles and provided with opposite contact faces at different distances from the spindles, whereby said blocks may be rotated on the spindles to respectively present said contact faces for action, and means acting upon the swinging arms for retarding the swinging movements thereof.

10. In a picker stick check, a checking device having spaced buffers for contact with the picker stick on its reverse movements, a swinging frame carrying said checking device, rotatable brake members for action upon the ends of the swinging frame, and brake devices acting on said rotatable brake members.

11. In a picker stick check, a checln'ng de vice, arms at the ends of said checking device pivotally supporting the same for swinging movements, a rotatable brake member acting on each arm, and a friction brake band acting on each rotatable brake member.

12. In a picker stick check, a checking device, arms at the ends of said checking device pivotally supporting the same for swinging movements, a rotatable brake member acting on each arm, a spring actuated friction brake band acting on each rotatable brake member, and means for regulating the pressure of the springs of the brake bands.

13. In a picker stick check, a checking device, swinging supports at the ends of the checking device for pivotally mounting the same upon a loom, and independent friction brake devices acting upon the respective supports.

14:. In a picker stick check, swinging arms, a check device having end buffers and pivotally supported at its ends by said arms, a rotatable brake head acting upon each swinging arm, a brake band acting upon each brake head, and means for regulating the pressure of each brake band.

15. In a picker stick check, a swinging check pivotally supported at its ends and having spaced buffers for contact with the picker stick on the reverse movements of said stick, and friction brake devices acting upon the respective pivoted supports of said checking device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS CARTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

